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KAKINADA: Andhra Pradesh has unveiled plans to undertake seaweed culture in 14 villages across 9 coastal districts, including Tirupati, with the collaboration of the Amrita University, the central salt and marine chemicals research institute and national institute of ocean technology. The project is to be taken up by society for elimination of rural poverty, with a view to establishing seaweed cultivation as a transformative and sustainable alternative livelihood for coastal communities. This would help around 6,000 families earn around '1.5 lakh per annum. The initiative would be entrusted to self help groups with financial support from SERP. Projections are that trained beneficiaries can generate incomes ranging from '1.5 lakh to '3.5 lakh per hectare of cultivation area. This, depending on species selection, the cultivation methodologies employed, the processing levels achieved and the market access capabilities developed through the programme. In addition to its substantial economic promise, seaweed farming offers remarkable environmental benefits that align with global climate change mitigation strategies and marine ecosystem conservation objectives. Seaweed cultivation plays a crucial role in carbon sequestration, with these marine plants absorbing significant quantities of carbon dioxide directly from seawater and the atmosphere. A plan is to start the seaweed farming in Ammenabada and Danavaipeta in Kakinada district to develop a grid model, Sirrayanam in the BR Ambedkar Konaseema district, Etimoga (China Ganjam) in Bapatla, Budagatlapalem in Srikakulam, a grid model development in Tirupati and some of the villages in Nellore, Anakapalli, Krishna and Prakasam districts. The CSMCRI would support the seaweed culture at Nellore, Prakasam, Bapatla, Krishna and Kakinada districts, NIOT in Tirupati and Amrita University in Konaseema, Anakapalli and Srikakulam districts. According to sources, CSMCRI has taken up seaweed culture at Budagatlapalem in Srikakulam district, but failed. So, Amrita would take up the culture here. SERP has prepared an action plan to attract entrepreneurs in the postharvest of seaweed culture. Meanwhile, challenges are many and these have to be faced to develop seaweed culture as this is a perishable product on the lines of milk. The harvest can come about within 45 to 60 days and it should be processed or marketed immediately. Seaweed is a healthy and hygienic food, which is vastly consumed majorly in Japan. A market centre exists in Mandapam in Tamil Nadu. Unless a market is created in AP for seaweed culture, this should be carried to Mandapam. But, a question is whether it survives the journey to Mandapam. Experts said processed units should be established at the seaweed culture areas. Dr V.V. Rao, functional expert in aqua at SERP, said that if seaweed culture is grown, the PPT (parts per thousand) of salinity should be maintained at less than 35 per cent in the culture spot. In the Mandapam area, the seaweed is grown near the shore. In Andhra Pradesh, in many areas in the sea, it could be cultivated in deep waters. This would involve a huge expense, he said. According to him, cultivation efforts may encounter challenges due to unpredictable climate conditions that disrupt growth cycles. This would affect crop yields. He said that if the expenditure is '35 per tonne, this is viable as the market rate is '50 per kilo. A woman entrepreneur is successfully running seaweed culturing at Bapatla. She got a yield of nearly 100 tonnes.
Srinagar, Nov 27 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir's Road Transport Corporation (RTC), a crucial backbone of public transportation, has raised serious concerns over the barring of its buses from entering Srinagar city limits. The move has triggered alarm within the Corporation, with officials cautioning about significant disruptions to public transport services and daily commutes, alongside substantial financial losses for the RTC. The restriction, in effect since November 4 when the maiden session of the Assembly commenced, is causing a daily revenue loss of Rs. 4 lakh to the Corporation. In a lette ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: Prominent social activist Medha Patkar was stopped from entering Odisha's Rayagada district on Thursday morning, where protests against bauxite mining were planned for the day. Patkar, a leading face of the 'Narmada Bachao Andolan,' arrived at Rayagada railway station early in the day, only to be served a prohibitory order restricting her entry into the district for two months, effective from June 4, 2025. The order, signed by Rayagada district collector Parul Patawari, also bars nearly two dozen other activists from entering the area. Citing concerns over potential disturbances ...Read More >
Mumbai: The birth of three penguin chicks at Mumbai's Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan and Zoo has sparked an unexpected row not over their care, but their names. BJP functionary Nitin Bankar from the Byculla Assembly constituency has objected to the chicks being given English names, insisting they be named in Marathi instead. The BMC is expected to respond by June 10, after which Bankar will decide his next move. Speaking to The Free Press Journal, Bankar said, "When penguins were brought from abroad, we accepted that their names would be in English. But these chicks were born on the soil of M ...Read More >
In a groundbreaking conservation effort, a large-scale underwater cleanup at Sindhudurg’s coral reefs removed 300 kg of marine debris, marking a significant step in protecting the fragile ecosystem. Organized by environmental groups, the Maharashtra Forest Department, and local divers, the operation targeted harmful pollutants like fishing nets, plastic, and glass bottles. The cleanup, which took place over two days, aims to restore coral health by removing debris that suffocates corals and disrupts marine life. The initiative, supported by local communities, sets the stage for further efforts ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 15 (ANI): Godrej Agrovet informed stock exchanges that the Gujarat government has allotted area to it in three districts for the expansion of oil palm cultivation under the palm oil mission. Those three districts are Vadodara, Surat, and Tapi, the company informed stock exchanges in a filing late on Saturday. The filing didn't elaborate further details about the allotment of land. India is the world's second-largest consumer and number one vegetable oil importer, and it meets 60 per cent of its need through imports. A large part of it is palm oil and its derivativ ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jan 14 (PTI) Wheat sowing increased by 1.38 per cent year-on-year to 320 lakh hectare so far in the ongoing 2024-25 rabi season, according to the agriculture ministry data released on Tuesday. Wheat, the main rabi (winter) crop, was sown in 315.63 lakh hectare in the year-ago period. Sowing of most rabi crops is nearing end. Harvesting will begin from April. According to the data, pulses' acreage remained flat at 139.81 lakh hectare as on January 14, compared to 139.11 lakh hectare in the year-ago period. Gram was covered in 96.65 lakh hectare and lentil in 17.43 lakh hectare. ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 5 (PTI) Rising temperatures, driven by climate change, is increasing the atmosphere's 'thirst', making droughts around the world 40 per cent more severe over the past 40 years, according to a new study. Researchers, including those at the University of California-Santa Barbara, US, explained that the atmosphere is becoming warmer, thereby increasing its capacity to hold moisture -- atmospheric evaporative demand -- and making droughts more severe, even in places where rainfall has stayed the same. Also Read | Who Is Pinaki Misra? From Age to Family Background and Net Worth, He ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 18 (VOICE) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched a blistering attack at the Congress party, accusing it of indulging in every possible dirty trick to obliterate the legacy of Dr. Ambedkar and also humiliate the SC/ST communities. PM Modi's tirade came on back of Congress's demand for the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah, whom they accused of disrespecting Dr Ambedkar during his speech in the Rajya Sabha. In a series of posts on X, PM Modi lambasted the Congress, claiming the party had a long history of undermining Ambedkar's contributions. "In Parliament, HM ...Read More >
Guwahati: The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2024 has highlighted a notable increase in school enrolment in rural Assam and significant improvement in digital literacy and better learning outcome compared to the 2022 ASER results. The survey, facilitated by Pratham foundation, covered 24,275 children across 780 villages in 26 districts. The 14th nationwide field based ASER survey was conducted across over 17,000 villages across the country, comprising over 6.49 lakh students in the age group of 3-16 years. The ASER results released on Tuesday has shown a rising trend in enrolment i ...Read More >
Heavy rains across Tamil Nadu have led to school closures in several districts, including Chennai, on Thursday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert, predicting moderate rains and light thunderstorms in parts of the state. Rainfall figures show significant precipitation in multiple areas. Meanwhile, Northern India braces for a cold wave beginning December 9, with the IMD forecasting plunging temperatures in Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.Schools acros ...Read More >
Bihar's infrastructure has seen a 15-fold increase in data consumption over the past five years. Road density is now the third highest in India, electricity generation has increased tenfold, and IT parks and data centers are being developed. Numerous bridges and expanded rail lines are improving connectivity and boosting trade.Bihar has seen a 15-fold jump in data consumption in the last five years as the state goes big on developing infrastructure, investing in connectivity and building rail and ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jan 27 (UNI) Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has released its manifesto for the next month Assembly election with 15 guarantees, including employment and the women's dignity scheme. While releasing the manifesto on Monday, AAP's national convener and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, "Kejriwal's guarantees are solid," emphasising that free electricity for 24 hours, free water, free education, free pilgrimage for senior citizens, free bus travel for women, and free medical treatment in hospitals and Mohalla Clinics will continue in Delhi. He alleged, "BJP leaders and spokespersons ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], January 27 (ANI): Delhi Police detained BJP workers and leaders who were protesting against AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal and the Punjab Government regarding the vandalism of a statue of Babasaheb Ambedkar in Amritsar on Monday. The Delhi BJP, led by party chief Virendra Sachdeva, MP Yogender Chandolia, and national general secretary Dushyant Kumar Gautam, protested against AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal and the Punjab Government. This demonstration was in response to the vandalism of a statue of Babasaheb Ambedkar in Amritsar. Also Read | Maha Kumbh Mela 20 ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jun 5 (PTI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday inaugurated the final 76-km-long stretch of the Samruddhi Mahamarg, making the entire 701-km Mumbai-Nagpur corridor fully functional and bringing down the travel time between the two cities to 8 hours from around 18 hours. Fadnavis described the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Mahamarg as an "engineering marvel" and said this "economic corridor" would play a vital role in the state's development. Fadnavis said by connecting the expressway with the proposed Vadhvan port, they are planning to develop it as an "economic corrid ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar, June 5 (UNI) Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday urged the people to resolve to end plastic pollution and maintain a healthy, clean environment. "Today, let us pledge to eliminate plastic pollution and create a healthier, cleaner environment for our citizens," Majhi said while addressing the state-level World Environment Day event. He noted that plastic has become an integral part of our lives, especially single-use plastics. Stressing that plastic waste must be ad ...Read More >
At Modern Public School, Shalimar Bagh, on Monday, a teacher played the role of a vegetable seller, complete with props, while students acted as buyers. "How much is this vegetable for?" asked the teacher, setting off lively exchanges -- all over a laptop screen. Advertisement https://images.indianexpress.com/2020/08/1x1.png This roleplay session, part of an online lesson about markets and vegetables, is one of many such creative strategies teachers are adopting as schools across Delhi shift to remote learning due to hazardous air pollution levels. The air quality in Delhi plummeted to "se ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 3 (ANI): Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill, 2024 to expand the definition of mineral oils and include petroleum and natural gas passed in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. The bill was introduced by Union petroleum and natural gas minister Hardeep Singh Puri for consideration and passing. The Bill will regulate the exploration and extraction of natural gas and petroleum. The amended bill expands the definition of mineral oils to include petroleum and natural gas in it. Also Read | Pune: Doctors Perform Rare Laser Surgery on Woman Pregnant With Monoam ...Read More >
BHUBANESWAR : Unable to regulate retail price of the potato even after normal flow of the tuber from West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, the state government has decided to provide the kitchen essential to consumers at a subsidised rate through the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited (NAFED). In the first phase of its market intervention initiative, the state government has procured 60 tonnes of potato from Uttar Pradesh through NAFED and the same will be available ...Read More >
Guwahati, June 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) The flood situation in Assam marginally improved on Thursday, while the situation further improved in other northeastern states, an official said. With two more fresh deaths in Assam, the death toll in seven states, excluding Sikkim, of the region increased to 48. According to the disaster management officials of different northeastern states, out of 48 deaths during the current spell of rain and floods since May 29, at least 21 people died in Assam, followed by 12 in Arunachal Pradesh, six in Meghalaya, five in Mizoram, two in Tripura and one each in Nagalan ...Read More >
Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], June 5 (ANI): Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel graced the distribution ceremony of 50 JCB machines organised by the Bharwad Yuva Sangathan - Gujarat Pradesh, held at Town Hall in Gandhinagar on Thursday. During the event, 50 economically disadvantaged youths from the Bharwad community were provided with JCB machines without any down payment, as part of an initiative to empower them towards self-reliance, according to the press release. Commending the efforts of the organization, the Chief Minister stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always emphas ...Read More >
New Delhi, November 26: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that the government at the Centre has strengthened the spirit of the Constitution over the last 10 years. Addressing the Constitution Day celebrations at the Supreme Court, PM Modi highlighted that in the last 10 years, more than 53 crore bank accounts were opened, more than 4 crore pukka houses were given and more than 10 crore free gas connections were given. "In the last 5-6 years, by providing tap water facilities in more than 12 crore houses, the government made the lives of citizens easy, particularly of women," he sai ...Read More >
Patna, Dec 13 (VOICE) The Bihar Public Service Commission 70th Preliminary Combined Examination will be conducted at 912 centres in the state on Friday.With these examinations, 2,031 posts in various government departments will be filled. A total of 4.80 lakh candidates have applied for the examinations, scheduled to start at noon and end at 2.00 p.m. The commission has issued guidelines for the candidates appearing for the examinations. The guidelines are: "Candidates are asked to bring two printed copies of their admit card, of which, the invigilator will keep one, proof of original ID is ...Read More >
FEROZEPUR: A Bolero pickup and a canter collided in Punjab's near village Mohan's Utaad, near Guru Har Sahai, District Ferozepur in the early hours leaving 9 dead and 11 people injured. At the time of the tragic accident, Bolero pickup was carrying waiters to a catering event, going from Guru Har Sahai towards Jalalabad. While, the injured people were taken to the hospital by the police with the help of passersby, the bodies of the dead were found scattered on the road. Although the police is investigating the whole matter, they suspect the accident happened when the pickup went out of contr ...Read More >
Hyderabad: With the early onset of pre-monsoon showers, farmers across Telangana have started their agricultural activities ahead of schedule. However, the agriculture department is facing strong criticism for failing to provide adequate fertilizers and seeds necessary for the current season. According to officials, there is a significant shortfall in the availability of essential inputs like urea and cotton seeds, which may negatively impact crop planning and productivity across the state. Also Read: Madhuri Dixit Recalls 'Hum Aapke Hain Koun' Magic with Salman Khan as Monsoon Arrives For ...Read More >
A crucial round of negotiations on a global plastic pollution treaty has begun in Busan, South Korea. Led by Norway and Rwanda, 66 countries and the EU are pushing for a legally binding agreement to control plastic production, consumption, and waste management. However, key points of contention include limits on plastic production and the ban of single-use plastics. With plastic production set to rise 70% by 2040, negotiators aim to protect human health and the environment while promoting recycling, reducing harmful chemicals, and supporting sustainable plastic practices. Industry leaders and ...Read More >
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday defended Amit Shah's remarks on Babasaheb Ambedkar and said that Shah exposed Congress' dark history of insulting Ambedkar after which they are clearly stung and stunned by the facts he presented. In a series of posts on X, PM Modi said that Congress sat in power for years but did nothing to empower the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities. "In Parliament, Amit Shah Ji exposed the Congress' dark history of insulting Dr Ambedkar and ignoring the SC/ST Communities. They are clearly stung and stunned by the facts he presented, whic ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jan 8 (PTI) The government is planning to make it mandatory for domestic airlines to share weather data captured by aircraft during takeoffs and landings with the weather office, which could lead to significantly better forecasts. Currently, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) launches weather balloons from 50-60 stations to collect critical data on temperature, humidity and wind speed at various altitudes, which form crucial inputs for weather forecasting models. These inputs could increase exponentially as the country records more than 6,000 takeoffs and landings by domest ...Read More >
Bengaluru, 26th May 2025: The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) will convene the 38th Meeting of the Central Apprenticeship Council (CAC) on 26th May 2025 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The Council, reconstituted in October 2024 under the chairmanship of Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Hon'ble Minister of State (Independent Charge), MSDE, plays a pivotal role in advising the Government on key policies related to apprenticeship training across the country. The last CAC meeting was held in June 2021. Since then, India's apprenticeship landscape has evolved considerably -- with over ...Read More >
It reveals crucial insights into how this saline apocalypse unfolded Millions of years ago, the Mediterranean Sea was transformed into a vast, desolate salt desert, its waters evaporating at an alarming rate and leaving behind a giant salt bed. This dramatic shift, known as the Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC), was a time when the Mediterranean was effectively cut off from the Atlantic Ocean, causing one of the most extreme environmental events in Earth's history. Now, new research is shedding light on this ancient catastrophe, revealing crucial insights into how this saline apocalypse unfol ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 3 (ANI): The Delhi High Court has issued a notice in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the alleged unlawful construction of Urban Extension Road II through the village pond land in Goyla Khurd, located in the Southwest District of Delhi. The construction, which took place between 2018 and 2024, is visible in Google satellite images and raises concerns about the loss of natural resources crucial for environmental sustainability, especially as the city grapples with pollution, heatwaves, groundwater depletion, and climate change, plea stated ...Read More >